My heart stops beating for what feels like a minute before I unlock my phone and reread the text message a few times.
Unsure what to say in this situation I respond with a simple. "Alright."
When I see the little moving text bubbles appear on the screen my mind races about what he could be texting me about around noon on a Saturday.
"Adley forgot her backpack in your classroom yesterday." His simple response instantly clicks in my head and slightly calms my heart
"Yes, she did."
"I hate to ask this of you, but I work all day today, would you be able to drop her backpack off? She said that she was given homework."
"Yes, I can drop it off today."
"Where should I be dropping it off at?" I ask after I realize I have no idea where he works or where Adley will be.
"At my restaurant if that works for you. It's The Ledbury on Williamson St. Adley and I will be here the whole day" I quickly recognize the name and can feel my eyes widen slightly. The Ledbury is a well known restaurant in Maine and has reportedly one of the longest waiting lists.
"Alright. I can probably drop it off in about an hour or so." I type before locking my phone and taking in a deep breath.
I get up and change into a pair of denim wash jeans and a casual black sweater.
What do you wear to a fancy restaurant you are dropping off a six-year-olds backpack at?
After debating on changing for almost five minutes I decide to just stick with what I have on, throw my phone into a black cross-body bag along with my car keys and head out my front door.
The ride to the school is quick and silent, filled only by my thoughts of possible scenarios of once I get to The Ledbury, each one more unrealistic than the previous. Unsurprisingly the school is empty as I let myself into the front doors and then my classroom to get the light blue backpack decorated with different pen and marker drawings.
Making sure to lock the doors on my way out I place Adley's backpack on the passenger floor before putting the restaurant's address into my phone and driving off. It isn't until I am almost to my destination when I realize I have no idea how to go about this situation. Do I go up to the maitre d and say I have Adley's backpack? Am I supposed to text him so he can get the bag from the front of the restaurant? From the car?
My anxiety spikes as I park near the restaurant still have no idea what to do. As if he read my mind from half-a-block away my phone dings with a notification from Mr. Graf.
"When you get here you can go right up to the maitre d, he is informed to bring you to the back."
"Thank you." I respond, unsure if he will understand what exactly I am thanking him for.
I exhale the air I was holding in my lungs and shake my hands a little to get my jitters under control. I quickly grab Adley's backpack and my purse as I turn off the car then step out.
I was able to park close enough to the restaurant front so that I can see the people both entering and exiting and realize I will most definitely look like a fool entering in jeans and sweater while everyone else is wearing things I don't even think would be found on the rack.
Putting on what I believe to be a strong face I walk to the door which a man kindly opens for me before walking up to the maitre d, passing a couple not much older than me who observe with me obvious distaste.
"Hello, I'm Ms. Johansen. I believe-" Before I have time to finish the man kindly smiles at me and interrupts me.
"Ahh yes, Ms. Johansen. Mr. Graf gave me specific instructions to bring you to the back." He gives me a nod before looking at the slightly shaken couple "I will be back in a minute, please wait here."
Before speaking again he steps from behind his station and continues.
"Follow me miss. My name is Luis." He informs me with an accent, most likely french.
"It's nice to meet you, Luis, I'm Samaria"
"Samaria, a beautiful name from a beautiful country, are you from Israel?"
"No, my grandmother was born and raised though, I was named after her." I say as my eyes scan the room and we head towards the back of the surprisingly small but uncrowded dinning room.
"Well, you should visit if you can, so many wonderful sights and diversity." Luis says with a smile. "Well, here we are. Just go through these doors and Micah should be there." He finishes with a smile while departing to the front of the restaurant.
"Thank you," I say but he is already half-way back to his station and the upset couple by the time I get the words out.
Staring at the metal door handle I wrap my hand around it before slowly opening it and stepping into what feels like a different world.
The first sense that gets overwhelmed is my nose due to the fresh scents coming from every counter in the large kitchen, each one putting together a different dish.
Before I have time to take in the whole scene Mr. Graf is in front of me wearing a slightly fitted t-shirt and dark-wash jeans. Somehow making a very casual outfit look as good as if he were wearing a suit.
"I um, I have Adley's bag." I stutter as I slightly raise in up, slightly distracted by his striking features.
"Adley is back here." He responds with a smirk and slight chuckle.
As we make our way to the back of the kitchen I can feel several pairs of eyes glance in our direction before going back to work.
"Ms. Johansen." Adley smiles delightedly at me, obviously happier now than she was yesterday.
"Hello, I brought your backpack." I return her smile as I set it in the chair next to her and she quickly digs into her bag to get what I assume to be her homework.
"Thank you for bringing it, I appreciate it." Mr. Graf says gruffly from the door. When I look at him our eyes meet and I find it hard to look away and have to resist the urge to observe his features.
"Ms. Johansen, can you help me with this? I still don't understand it." Adley asks as she stares intently at the first problem.
"Adley, I can help you later." Her uncle responds while giving me an awkward smile.
"But your bad at explaining and are always working." Adley protests with a cross of her arms.
"I can help you, Adley." I say, trying to diffuse the situation to the best of my ability. "If that's alright." I give a questioning look to Mr. Graf.
"If you don't mind." He confirms with a nod.
YOU ARE READING
Ephemeral (Slow Updates)
Romance"Maybe that's all we will ever be- an incomplete sentence, a half-written story. Finished, without an ending ." ~~~~~ Samaria is a school teacher that is finally getting her life on-track after 24 years. She has stopped fully depending on her brothe...
